Cartridge-loading machine.



Patented May I, I900. W. H. VAN PATTEN.

CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINE.

Application filed Feb. 1 1900 vwcn-boz arrow, 0.

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NITED STATES ATENT Fries,

WILLIAMH. VAN PATTEN, or. FAIRFIELD, sow A.

CARTRIDGE-LOADING MACHINE;

. SPECIFICATION forming en, of Letters Patent No. 648,816, dated m 1, 1960'.

' Application filed February 1, 1990. Serial No. 3,615. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. VAN PAT- TEN, of Fairfield, in the county of J efierson and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cartridge-Loading Machines; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the ac-v companying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in cartridge-loading machines; and its object is to provide a'very simple apparatus by which all the operations of weighing the charges, filling and crimping-the cartridges, and capping or decapping the same carroo performed quick] yand conveniently and wherein the degree of compression upon the chargescan be regulated with exactitude to obtain the best results from the powder employed and the ex-' plosive force desired.

The invention consists in the novel construction of the several portions of the apparatus and the combinations thereof summarized in the appended claims and hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate what I consider the best form of the complete apparatus now known to me embodying the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is afront elevation of the apparatus, showing the parts adjusted for packing or filling the cartridge.

Fig. 2 is a section thcrethrough on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking downward. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the parts arranged for decappin g cartridges. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the parts arranged for recapping. Fig. 6

is a detail view showing the parts arranged for crimping. Figs. 7, 8,9, 10, and 11 are detail views of the detached parts.

A designates the base of the instrument, which is provided with a clamp-arm A and screw A by which it can be conveniently fastened on the top of the table or other suit- From the base A rise two parallel uprights a a, which are vertically grooved on their opposing jfaces to form guides for a vertically-movable sliding frame B ofinverted- U shape, whose legs 13 are provided with ribs 1), which enter the grooves in ing therein.

the uprights a. Said legs are also provided with racks b on one side, adapted to be engaged by pinions c on a transverse shaft C, journaled in suitable bearings on the uprights a and which can be operated by means of a crank-arm O, as shown, to raise and lower frame B. Through a central head on the frame B passes a vertical filling-tube D, which is prevented from longitudinal movement in the frame by collars 1, but is capable of rotary movement therein, and has a funnel D on its upper end provided with a handle df,

by which the tube can be rotated.

Upon the base A between the uprights a is a weighing and pressure indicating scale,

which consists pita cylinder E, Within which is a coiled spring E, supporting a verticallymovable plate e, provided with lugs c, which engage suitable guide-slots in the periphery of the cylinder and prevent the plate rotat- One of these lugs e is provided with an indicator 6 which moves past a graduated scale E on the exterior of the cylinder, by which the pressure uponthe plate .e'as the latter is lowered is readily indicated in ounces or pounds, either or both.

F F designate oppositecartridge-clampin g plates substantially semicircular in crosssection and adapted to hold a cartridge in central upright position upon-plate e. The plates F are provided with arms f at their lower ends, which are pivoted to the plate e at the point f and while supporting the clamp-plates in upright position allow them to be swung open orclosed. The armsf may be recessed intermediate pivot f and the plates to fit under a headed lug e on the plate c when the clamp-plates are closed to assist in holding the latter closed and to prevent vertical lifting thereof, and one clampplate may be provided with a spring-catch F,

adapted to engage a pin F on the opposite tridge when so held by emptying them into funnel D. 1

A rammer G can be screwed onto the lower and charges in place, the rammer being lowered by turning handle 0, thereby lowering the frame B and forcing the rammer into the cartridge with a degree of" pressure which can be readily determined by the indicator e and scale E".

For convenience during the filling of the Cartridges and in order to prevent spreading of the upper ends thereof a collar II may be slipped on the upper ends of the cartridges and rest upon the clamp-plates F, as shown. After the cartridge has been properly charged and packed the collar H can be removed therefrom and the packer G can be unscrewed from the tube D and the erimper I screwed thereon and lowered onto the cartridge by turning handle 0, and the crimping is then effected by rotating tube D by handle (1. These operations of filling and crimping the cartridges are su fiicientl y clear from the foregoing description and the drawings. After being filled the cartridges may be removed by opening the clamps F, as is obvious. It is also apparent that the weight of the charges, both powder and shot, put into the cartridge can be determined by the scale as well as the amount of pressure employed in packing charges in the cartridge. This is a very important practical feature of the device, as different grades of powder require different degrees of compression, and the uniformity of the explosions and propulsive force of the charges are largely dependent upon the uniformity of the compression of the charges in the cartridge. This is especially true where high-power and smokeless powders are used.

The device is also provided With decapping and recapping attachments, as shown, comprising a plate J, which is adapted to fit over the cylinder E (when the clamp-plates F F are removed) and is provided with lugsj to hold it centrally in position thereover and with a collared central aperture adapted to receive either end of a tube K, one end of which is provided with a pin and the other end of which is open. \Vhen the device is used to decap cartridges, the plate J is placed over the cylinder E and the tube K fitted thereon with pin uppermost. The cartridges may then be slipped over the tube K, and pin 7.: will force the caps out of the same. The packer (l or the crimper may be employed to force the cartridges down onto the tube in the decappin g operation. To recap'tlic cartridges, the tube K isinverted, its open end being uppcrmost. The cartridges may then he slipped thereon and the recapper-head L screwed onto the lower end of tube D, whereby the caps can be readily placed in position on the cartridges.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 11, the crimpingcup I is provided near the lower edge thereof with three equidistant openings i, in which are inserted from the outside of the erimper small steel rollers i, which are held in place by screws or plugs 13, as shown. These rollers 1' freely revolve within said openingsi instead of being made stationary, asI believe prior constructions show. Furtherm0re,tl1ese rolls may be so constructed as to make both a square and round crimp, if desired.

The manner of using the device and the simplicity of its construction will be su [liciently-understood from the foregoing description and drawings, and furtherdetaild explanation thereof is unnecessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I therefore claim as new is- I 1. The combination of the cartridge-support, the vertically-movable frame above the same, and the rotatable'filling-tube connected to said frame adaptedto carry a crimperhead on its lower end, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the cartridge-support, the vertically-movable frame above the packer-head or crimper-head, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the cartridge-support, and a vertically-movable frame thereover; with a rotatable filling-tube carried by said frame, having its lower end adapted to receive and support an interchangeable packerhead, crimper-hcad or dccapper-head, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the cartridge-sup port, the vertically-movable frame and a rotatable filling-tube carried by said frame, having its lower end adapted to receive and support an interchangeable packer-head,crimperhead or decapper-head; with the removable decappingtube adapted to be secured below the filling-tube, for the purpose and substantially as described.

5. The combination of the base, the opposite cartridge-clamping plates attachedthereto adapted to receive and hold a cartridge, the verticall ymovable frame above the same, and the'rotatable filling-tube connected to said frame; having its lower end adapted to receive and support an interchangeable packerhead or crimper-head.

6. The combination of the base provided with uprights, the opposite cartridge-holding clamping-plates pivotally mounted on said base, adapted to hold the cartridge in upright position thereon, the slidingframe guidedby said uprights, and the filliug-tubeattached thereto; with the racks and pinions for operating said frame, substantially as described.

7. 'lhecomhi'nation of the base provided with uprights, the opposite cartridge-holding clamping-plates pivotally mounted on said base, adapted to hold the cartridge in up right position thereon, and the sliding frame guided by said uprights; with the racks and pinions .for operating said frame, the rotatable filling-tube attached to said frame having its lower end adapted to receive and support an interchangeable packer-head or crimper- 1 head, substantially as described.

I port, the vertically-grooved uprights at eacha The combination Ofthfi base, the weighing or pressure scale thereon adapted to supporta cartridge, the vertically-movable frame above said scale and means for raising and lowering said frame; with a rotatable fillingtube attached to said frame having its lower end adapted to receive and support-an interchangeable packer-head or crimperhead suit stantially as described.

9. The combination of the .base, the vertical uprights attached thereto andthe vertically-movable frame between the upper end of said uprights, a rotatable filling-tube attached to said frame and adapted to support interchangeable packing or' crimping heads on its lower end, and a scale for supporting the cartridge, substantially as described.

10. The combination of the base, the vertical uprights attached thereto and the vertically-movable frame guided between said upright-s, and a rotatable filling-tube attached to said frame and adapted to support interchangeable packing, crimping or decapping heads on its lower eud;with a reversible tube adapted to be placed below said tube and provided with a decapping-pin on one end, for the purpose and substantially as described.

11. The combination of the base, the scale thereon, the vertically-movable frame above the scale, and a rotatable filling-tube attached to said frame and adapted to support interchangeable packing, crimping or 'deeapping heads on its lower end; with a plate adapted to fit over the scale aird the reversible tube adapted to be placed on said plate and provided with a decapping-pin on one end, for the purpose and substantially as described.

12. The combination of the cartridge-supside thereof, a frame guided in said uprights and the rack and pinion for raising and low- I ering said frame; with a rotatable filling-tube carried by said frame, said tube having a funnel on its upper end and its lower end adaptednel on its upper end and its lower end adapted to receive and support an interchangeable packer-head, erimper-head or decapper-head, substantially as described; with the removable decapping device adapted to be secured between the uprights and below the filling tube, for the purpose and substantially as described.

14. The combination of the base, the uprights attached thereto, and the verticallymovable frame between the upper ends of said uprights; with a scale below said frame adapted to support the cartridge, thecarridge-clamping plates attached to said scale and movable therewith, and a rotatable filling-tube attached, to said frame adapted to,

support interchangeable packing or crimping 7 heads on its lower end.

15. The combination of the base, the up rights attached thereto, and the'vertieallymovable frame guided by said uprights adapted to'carry the packing or crimping or recapping head; with a scale below said frame adapted to support the cartridge, the clampin g plates attached to said seale,a plate adapted to ,fit over the scale when the clampingplates are removed and the reversible tube adapted to be placed on said plate and provided with a decapping-pin on one end,-'for the purpose and substantially as described.

16. The combination of the base, the uprights attached thereto, and the verticallymovable frame guided by said uprights, a scale below said frame adapted to support the cartridge, the pivoted clamping-plates attached to said scale and movable therewith,

a rotatable filling-tube attached to said frame and adapted to support interchangeable packing, crimping or recapping heads on its lower" end; with a plate adapted to fit over the scale when the clam ping-plates are removed and the reversible tube adapted to be placed on .crimper-head provided with rollers in its lower end equidistantly arranged whereby the cartridge may be recapped, substantially as and for the purpose described.

18. The combination of the base, a weighing or pressure scale therein, the opposite cartridge-clamping plates attached to said. scale adapted to receive and hold a cartridge, and

the vertically-movable frame above the same, a'rotatable tube attached to said frame having its lower end adapted to receive and support a packer-head or criinper-head, substantially as described.

19. The combination of the base provided with uprights, the opposite cartridge-holding clamping-plates pivotally mounted onsaid base, adapted tohold the cartridge in upright position thereon, the sliding frame guided by. said uprights, and a rotatable tube on saidframe having its lower end adapted to support an interchangeable packer-head or crimperhead, and means for operating said frame, substantially as described.

20. 'lhecombination of a weighing or pressure scale adapted to support a cartridge, a Vertically-movable frame above said scale, and a rotatable tube on said frame adapted to carry an interchangeable packer-head or crimpcr-head, and means for raising and lowering said frame, substantially as described.

21. The combination of the base, the vertical uprights attached thereto and the vertically-movable frame between the upper end of said uprights, a rotatable tube on said frame having its lower end adapted to support an interchangeable packing-head or crimper-head or deeapping device; witha scale below said frame adapted to support the cartridges, substantially as described.

he combination of the base, the vertical uprights attached thereto and the vertically-movable frame between the upper ends of said uprights,a rotatable tube on said frame havingits lowerend adapted to supportan interchangeable packing-head or crimping-head '15 or decapping device; with a scale below said frame adapted to support the cartridge, and the cartridge-clamping plates attached to said scale and movable therewith, substantially as described. 20

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM II. VAN lAT'lEN.

ln presence of CLARENCE L. LEEDS, MABEL O. CLAPPER. 

